The number of watches imported to the U.S. last year was flat compared with 1999, though the value increased 8%, based on a new American Watch Association analysis of statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Retailers echoed these findings, with many reporting greater consumer interest in higher-cost mechanical watches. But when steel- or plastic-cased watches are added to the mix, imports of automatic watches fell 3.3%.

 by Michael Thompson

Total watch imports (in units) rose slightly in 2000. Imports of precious-metal-cased models fell after China reclassified its definition of a precious-metal watch.

Total imports by units, listed here by category, show large percentage increases in the manual and anadigital categories.

A reclassification by China accounts for the large drop in digital and anadigital imports. Mechanical, quartz analog and automatic watch imports increased.